Duct for air conditioning systems



Sept. 28, 1943.

H. E. WICHNER DUST FOR AIR CONDITIONING SYSTEMS Filed Sept. 5, 1941 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 .Zhbzz "INVENTOR.

v BY M Sept. 28, 1943. H. E. WICHNER DUST FOR AIR CONDITIONING SYSTEMS Filed Sept. 3, 1941 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 I INVENTOR.

Sept. 28, 1943. H. E. WICHN ER 2,330,769

' DUST FOR AIR CONDITIONING SYSTEMS Filed Sept. 3, 1941 s Sheets-Sheet 3 INVENTOR.

Patented Sept. 28, 1943 i m I '.muemoeem egfifimm"SYSTE S l LHenryEJWiGhner,Brookfieldjfllownship, Trumbull County, Ohio e mpplicationrseptember 3, 19421,;Senia1Not4il rolai (Cl-{285 201) i This invention relatesto air conditioning :systems, and particularly to :air ducts .and :theilike therefor, its general objectsheingiitozprovideiseveral different types of duct forming members,

and-'means' to facilitate assembling:arrdlocking companion members together, in: a imannerzto not only provide a ieakproof seam-or joint :but to preventany possibility of casualrseparation or displacement-emu the duct forming'membersan'd locking means are of such constructiongthat itxis 1 possible to assemble the sameto meet'substantially all conditions encountered during the insta'llation "of ducts in an entire system.

A further object is to provide a duct forming members andlockingmeans therefor that canbe panying drawings and specifically pointe'd out' in the "appended claim. In describing the invention -'in --=detail, reference will be had tothe aecompanying drawings wherein like characters denote like'orcorresponding parts throughout the sever al views, =and -in which:

Figure 1 is aperspective"view -illustrating one form of "duct constructed from certain xii-my members or elements and-locking meanstherefor, there beingtwo main ducts shownfiin -connection with an xair-conditioning unit, through the medium of plenum chambers'or' duct sections. Figure 2 is a perspective view of a modified Figure 3 is an enlarged fragmentary-perspectiveview illustrating one eri'd portionota duct section of the form of "Figure -l,-*- with the"parts separated.

Figure 4 is a sectional viewtaken'approx-imatetion of the arrows.

Figure 5 is a fragmentary perspective viewof one of theside membersor'a reducingiduct section, of the form of Figure 1.

F igurez8 is ;a sectional \uietv-ttaken through a medifiedzform of flocking cleatzwhiQhimay be used zvzfor'joining theends ofitheductzsectinns Qfreither of the forms of Figures 1 and 2, butiiilustrates-the same iin' use for connecting t thelloiwer znortion of van renda duct section of Figure :1 iwitfhga :plenum I -'-Fig'u1"-e 14 lochingi cleat of "the type shown 'iiraFig'ures 10 chamherior'ductssection. i

Figure :is a fragmentary ip erspective iview .iof

-mate1y 'onriinesmm of Figure: 1 1, looking-tin: the -d-irectionrifutherarrows.

Figure l'3 I is a sectional :view taken :approxi- :mate'ly on ne tfi-ltof Figure 1l,11ookinginthe directionmf the:arrows. i

isaan end view -of;a=modified form of Referring to the drawings ini detail, andzparticularly' Figure 1-,:theietter A indicates an air conditioning unit havin'g plenum z-chamber 1 duct =sections secured 1 to and risin-g therefrom, and the duct sectionsB have the end sections of main i eturn and outlet ifducts C connected thereto, -the du'c tsC Ebeing identieaiand' the 'chamber.sec-

"tions are likewise identical, but the latteri sections are 'forme'd' -'from 'mernbers including locking -tion-s of the-ducts C.

v *T-he-sectionso'f the ducts C are best show n in figure-includes a pair ofintermediate spaced-wall yplatesor panel's I and that: are: superimposed the arrangement shown, anda pair of :side P members coopera-te with theplatesil andrZ to 1y 0nline4-4 of Figure 1, looking in=thefdirec Figure 6 is a sectional view-taken--approximate T corner lockingcleat or joint member for the -form of Figure 2.

'form-the' section. "Each of: the-side .;members it are -oi substantia1ly U-shape in cross section .-.to;.iprovide a side :wall pcrtioniB rand";parallelcornllpperl and lower wall portions 4 and'fitthatare integral =-witlr-the side Wall po'rtionufi. v a

I he platesf l an'd 2 may be of ianyilen gthi and T shown in -iiigurerih Fen-that.purpose,:.each;;wal1

portion 4 and 5 has formed on and along the inner longitudinal edge thereof, a longitudinal locking cleat provided by a flange that is bent outwardly at its juncture with its wall portion to provide an inner rib 6, and from the outer edge of the rib 6, the flange is reversely crimped or folded to provide an outer rib l spaced from the rib 6 and overlying the same to provide a channel 8. The flange of this cleat which is broadly indicated by the reference numeral 9, is further folded from the inner longitudinal edge of the rib l to provide a locking tongue ll] extending into the channel 8, but having its free edge terminating short of the first fold H to provide a space and the tongue I6 is spaced fromthe rib 6 for that space to receive a longitudinal edge portion [3 of a plate or panel, as best shown in Figure 10, which illustrates that the edgeportion i3 is seated in the channel and it is locked therein by substantially semicircular lugs l4 struck from the longitudinal edge portion, a considerable 1 distance inwardly of the vextreme edge thereof, to bear against the inner or freeredge of the tongue 10. V

- By that construction, it will be obvious that the plates l and 2 are locked to the side members against any possibility of casual removal or displacement and the joint thus provided is also leakproof to prevent escape of air. The ribs 6 are relatively wide, and such materially facilitate assembling the parts, in that ample space is provided for the plates to rest upon, prior to inserting the longitudinal edge portions 13 within the channels, as will be apparent upon inspection of Figure 3.

in Figure 1, it will be noted that I have illustrated a reducing section connected to each of the end sections that are connected to the plenum side member of the reducing section, as best shown in Figure 5, includes a side wall portion I6 of angularxforination and parallel or upperand lower wall portions ll that have theirouter edges following the'shape of the side wall portion l5,

7 The inner edges of the wall portions I! have longitudinal locking cleats l8 identical to the cleats ,9 of the wall portions 4 and 5, and of course the plates I5 are provided with looking lugs to bear against the locking tongues of the cleats I 8, as well as the cleats 9 of the opposite side member of, the reducing section for securing the plates l5 within the cleats against casual removal or displacement, as will be apparent upon inspection of Figure 1.

From the reducing sections of the ducts, the remaining, sections thereof, atleast in the form shown in Figure l, are of course of less width than the sections that are connected to the plenum chambers, but the narrow sections are constructed from side members, and wall plates, which are locked together by cleats in exactly the same manner, as the plates and wall portions of the wide sections.

The sections of the main ducts of Figure l are connected together by transverse locking cleats l9 and 28, each of which includes a strip 2| havvidechannels 24, and the outer ribs 23 have formed thereon locking tongues 25 mounted in the channels 24, as best shown in Figure 10. The folded portions at the juncture of the ribs 22 and 23 are disposed in abutting contact with each other, and the inner ribs engage the body of the strip 2|.

The side cleats 20 have ears 26 formed on the outer ribs thereof and bent at right angles thereto and the ears are reduced in width from their juncture with the outer ribs, as well as have substantially semicircular locking lugs 21' struck therefrom to be received in slots 28 disposed in the outer ribs 23 of the cleats It as likewise best shown in Figure 10, for securing the cleats together, as shown in Figures 11 and 12. The ends of the wall plates and wall portions of the duct sections also have locking lugs 29 similar to the lugs 21 and I4, struck therefrom, and the lugs 29 arereceivable in the channels 24 to abut against the inner longitudinal edges of the locking tongues 25, for securing the ends of the sections together against casual removal or displacement, as well as to provide a leakproof joint or seam, as will be apparent.

In Figure 14 I have illustrated a slightly modified form of transverse locking cleat for connecting the ends of the sections together and this form is likewise made from a single strip to provide pairs, of inner ribs 39 'and outer ribs 35 spaced from the inner .ribs to provide channels 32, and the outer ribs 3| are likewise formed with locking tongues 33 mounted, in the channels 32. In this form of cleat the outer ribs, as well as the locking tongues 33 are provided with a double layer of material due to the manner of folding the strip and the outer layer of the ribs 3i bridge the fold portions at the juncture of the companion ribs with each other. Otherwise the cleat of Figure 14 is identical to the cleats I9 and 20 and function in exactly the same manner.

The modified form of duct D of Figure 2 is made up of elongated sections, butoi course it will be understood that the sections can be of any length as previously indicated, and each of the sections of that form include upper and lower wall plates or panels 36 and relatively narrow side wall plates orpanels 35 that have their angle portions 36 that are folded or crlmped H throughout the length thereof to provide inner ribs 31 and from the ribs 31 the portions 33 are folded to provide outer ribs 38 spaced from the inner ribs 31 to provide channels 39. The outer ribs 38 have locking tongues 48 formed on the outer longitudinal edges thereof, and the tongues 46 are mounted in the channels 39 to receive substantially semicircular locking lugs M that are struck from the longitudinal edge portions of the plates 34- and 35, so that these plates are connectedtogether against casual removal vor dis-- placement, as well as to provide a jointthatis leakproof, as will be apparent upon inspection of Figure 6.

A modified form of corner locking cleat is shown in Figure Land this form is likewise made from a single strip to provide right angle portions 42 that constitute the inner ribs, while the outer ribs are indicated by the reference numeral 43 and ar spaced from the portion or ribs 42 to provide channels M for'receiving the longitudinal edge portions of the plates 3 and 35. Formed on the outer ribs 43 are looking tongues 45 that are mounted in the channels to layer of the outer ribs 43 bridge th folded perf tions at the juncture of the outer and inner ribs with each other, as shown, and the folded portions are disposed in contacting engagement.

The sections of the duct of Figure-2 are shown as having their ends connected together by transverse locking cleats, identical to those as best shown in Figure 10, and of course the end'portions of the plates 34 and 35 must necessarily have locking lugs 45 struck therefrom to be received by the tongues 25 of the cleats l9 and 25. However, the sectionsof the duct of Figure 2 may have their ends connected together by substantially cross-sectional S-shaped locking cleats of the form as best shown in Figure 9, and this form is made from a single strip folded to provide outer ribs 43 and inner tongues 50, the ribs being disposed upon opposite sides of the body, to provide channels 49 having the tongues 59 mounted therein andspaced from the ribs, as Well as the body 41 for receiving the locking lugs 48 at the ends connecting the latter together in a leakproof manner, and of courseagainst casual separation or displacement.

It will be noted, as best shown in Figures 2 and 3 that the longitudinal locking cleats terminate inwardly ofthe ends of the sections a sufficient distance, to allow ample space to receive the transverselocking cleats.

It will be obvious from Figure 1 that the lower wall portion 2 and the lower wall portions 5 of each of the sections which are directly connected to the plenum chambers are formed to provide an opening for direct communication between those sections and the chambers, and a depending flange 5i is formed about the opening. The plenum chambers are in fact duct sections and each are formed, by side and end wall plate 52 and 53 respectively which are connected together along their vertical edges by either form of corner cleat of Figures 6 and '7. The cross-sectional S-shaped cleats of Figures 8 and 9 actto connect the upper edges of the side and'end wall plates 52 and 53 to the marginal flange 5i, and the lower edges of the plates 52 and 53 ar inserted within openings provided in the top wall of the unit A. It will be obvious that the plates 52 and 53 are eachprovided with looking lugs 54 to be received by the locking tongues 40 01" 45 of the corner cleats, and the locking tongues 50 of the cross-sectional S-shaped cleats. The flange 5| is provided with locking lugs 55 to be received by the locking tongues 50.

While all of the duct sections shown include straight members and locking means therefor,

of the duct sections, for

it will of course be necessary to provide some curved or elbow sections, and the latter sections will include locking cleats similar to those of the sections shown, for cooperation with looking lugs of the type shown, for locking the respective members of the elbow sections together.

While all of the wall forming members together with the locking cleats therefor may be prefabricated. at the factory and shipped on a job to be assembled, it is desirable in practice that only the separate locking cleats of each of the forms shown and the side members as best shown in Figures 3 and 5, without the locking lugs, be made at the factory, so that those members and cleats, withthe latter in long lengths, together with bundles of sheet metal can be shipped on a job for the installation mechanics to make any size duct section required, in that thesheets of metal and separate cleats can be out tothe desired size and length and the members can be punched to provide the locking lugs during the assembling of the sections and ducts, thus assuring proper fitting of the ducts relative to the building walls in which the system is being installedas well as a saving in time and labor.

It has been stated that my ducts are designed for air conditioning systems, but it will be obvious that they can be used in any type of .cooling and/or heating system, or for any other suitable purpose.

. that the advantages and novel features ofthe invention will be readily apparent.

It is to be understoodthat changes maybe made in the construction and in the combination and arrangement ofthe several parts, provided f that such changes fall within the scope of the appended claim.

What I claim is: 1

In aduct including sections, locking cleats for detachably securing the sections to each other, each cleat being formed from a strip folded re versely along its length to provide a body and a pair of inner ribs engaging the outer face of the body, outer ribs formed on the inner ribs and overlying the same to provide channels receiving the edge portions of the sections, tongues formed on the outer ribs and mounted in the channels in contact with the outer faces of the sections, substantially semicircular locking lugs formed on the sections and mounted in the channels in edge to edge contact with the tongues,

the outer ribs of certain strips having slots ad-- jacent the ends thereof, ears formed on the ends of the outer ribs of the remaining strips and mounted in the channels of companion strips between the tongues and outer ribs, and locking lugs formed on the ears and mounted in the slots for securing the cleats to each other.

HENRY. E. WICHNER. 

